Kim tells Putin N. Korea and Russia should 'strengthen cooperation'

North Korea's Kim Jong Un told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the two countries "should make efforts to strengthen cooperation" as the leaders meet in Beijing, where they were attending a massive parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender.

Putin on Wednesday thanked Kim Jong Un for helping Russia in the Kursk region, saying they fought "heroically". In a meeting with Kim in Beijing, Putin also praised their countries' "trust and friendship" and said that sending the troops was the North Korean leader's idea.